ESPN Opening Tips: Toronto Raptors 2010-11 Preview

ESPN just posted this on insider previewing the Atlantic division. This was the discussion on the Raps.

Scoutspeak
“ [DeRozan] can average 15-17 points this year and put himself in the conversation with his classmates, Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry and Brandon Jennings."

"All you need to know is in their first name -- they're a foreign team. They're like a team in Europe with a few good American players, and that won't cut it in this league.

"I do love DeMar DeRozan. He can be a superstar and reach the Vince Carter level. He's a freak athletically, a terror in transition, he can guard, he's competitive and he's got toughness and swagger. He can average 15-17 points this year and put himself in the conversation with his classmates, Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry and Brandon Jennings."

"[Andrea] Bargnani is a nice big man who can stretch defenses, but Jose Calderon is nothing more than a really nice backup. If [Leandro] Barbosa plays like he did two years ago, he could be a nice addition. He's got to get his confidence back."

Best-case scenario: "DeRozan emerges as a future star they can build around and they win 32 games."

Worst-case scenario: "26 wins."

Thorpe's breakout player: Amir Johnson, F

The Raptors have a number of young players who will get ample opportunities to step forward and become serious contributors. But much is expected of Johnson, thanks to his five-year, $34 million deal signed this summer, and with lottery pick Ed Davis recovering from knee surgery, Johnson will have as many minutes as he can stomach to start the season. He looks to be a guy who can average 10 and 10, and while those numbers seem pedestrian when compared to Chris Bosh, they would be welcomed by the Toronto coaching staff and front office.

The jury is out whether Bargnani will ever live up to No. 1 overall expectations, but the long-awaited verdict should arrive at the end of this upcoming season. Bosh has left Toronto, which shifts the spotlight squarely on the Italian big man who averaged 17.2 points last season.

Bargnani can hit treys and block a few shots in the post, but he struggles with just about everything else. In fact, he had the lowest steal rate among qualified players last season, one of the lowest assist rates for a regular center and, to top it all off, his rebounding numbers measure up more closely to those of a shooting guard. With five years and $50 million left on his contract, the Raptors will need to see some improvement from their franchise player

"I do love DeMar DeRozan. He can be a superstar and reach the Vince Carter level. He's a freak athletically, a terror in transition, he can guard, he's competitive and he's got toughness and swagger. He can average 15-17 points this year and put himself in the conversation with his classmates, Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry and Brandon Jennings."

Wow that is high praise - and not really based on reality. The only statement I agree with is that he is a freak athletcially. He does have the occassional nice dunk in transition, but if he gets stopped he usually makes a terrible decision with the ball. I have seen limited competitiveness and zero toughness or swagger. In fact, he looks a little bit sheepish at times.

I hope I am wrong, but I don't see Derozan ever being a full time starter let alone all-star.

Wow that is high praise - and not really based on reality. The only statement I agree with is that he is a freak athletcially. He does have the occassional nice dunk in transition, but if he gets stopped he usually makes a terrible decision with the ball. I have seen limited competitiveness and zero toughness or swagger. In fact, he looks a little bit sheepish at times.

I hope I am wrong, but I don't see Derozan ever being a full time starter let alone all-star.

I think you are really being too critical of Derozan, unlike alot of the players we had in the past and current players like Barney, he is consistent with his offensive game, its the defencive side this year that I hope he improves on.

Wow that is high praise - and not really based on reality. The only statement I agree with is that he is a freak athletcially. He does have the occassional nice dunk in transition, but if he gets stopped he usually makes a terrible decision with the ball. I have seen limited competitiveness and zero toughness or swagger. In fact, he looks a little bit sheepish at times.

I hope I am wrong, but I don't see Derozan ever being a full time starter let alone all-star.

at first I tend to agree and to be honest that thought has been crossing my mind more often with each preseason game. then I remind myself he just turned 21 in august. time will tell.

ESPN Insider: Johnson to breakout, worst-case 26 wins

TORONTO RAPTORS
The Raptors have a potential star on the roster, but they will need much more time before they're ready to compete with the rest of the conference.

Scoutspeak

“[DeRozan] can average 15-17 points this year and put himself in the conversation with his classmates, Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry and Brandon Jennings.”

"All you need to know is in their first name -- they're a foreign team. They're like a team in Europe with a few good American players, and that won't cut it in this league.

"I do love DeMar DeRozan . He can be a superstar and reach the Vince Carter level. He's a freak athletically, a terror in transition, he can guard, he's competitive and he's got toughness and swagger. He can average 15-17 points this year and put himself in the conversation with his classmates, Tyreke Evans , Stephen Curry and Brandon Jennings .

"[Andrea] Bargnani is a nice big man who can stretch defenses, but Jose Calderon is nothing more than a really nice backup. If [Leandro] Barbosa plays like he did two years ago, he could be a nice addition. He's got to get his confidence back."

Best-case scenario: "DeRozan emerges as a future star they can build around and they win 32 games."

Worst-case scenario: "26 wins."

-- As told to Chris Broussard

Thorpe's breakout player: Amir Johnson , F

The Raptors have a number of young players who will get ample opportunities to step forward and become serious contributors. But much is expected of Johnson, thanks to his five-year, $34 million deal signed this summer, and with lottery pick Ed Davis recovering from knee surgery, Johnson will have as many minutes as he can stomach to start the season. He looks to be a guy who can average 10 and 10, and while those numbers seem pedestrian when compared to Chris Bosh , they would be welcomed by the Toronto coaching staff and front office.

Haberstroh's salary spotlight: Andrea Bargnani , C

Age: 25 | 2010-11 salary: $8.5 million | Projected PER: 14.3

The jury is out whether Bargnani will ever live up to No. 1 overall expectations, but the long-awaited verdict should arrive at the end of this upcoming season. Bosh has left Toronto, which shifts the spotlight squarely on the Italian big man who averaged 17.2 points last season.

Bargnani can hit treys and block a few shots in the post, but he struggles with just about everything else. In fact, he had the lowest steal rate among qualified players last season, one of the lowest assist rates for a regular center and, to top it all off, his rebounding numbers measure up more closely to those of a shooting guard. With five years and $50 million left on his contract, the Raptors will need to see some improvement from their franchise player.

at first I tend to agree and to be honest that thought has been crossing my mind more often with each preseason game. then I remind myself he just turned 21 in august. time will tell.

I realize he is young - however, killer instinct and a will-to-win are not traits you develop as you age, they are typically characteristics you have had for a good part of your life. The great players have that undefinable intangible - the thing that makes them great.... and they have it before they enter the league. I don't see it in Derozan. Yes his jump shot may get better, and he will definitely improve his defence, and maybe his ball control and passing will strengthen; but even with all of those improvements he would still be missing that all-star quality.

I just hope the Raptors don't get caught sitting around waiting for Derozan to improve for the next four or five years - like they have done with Bargnani.

I have to agree with a lot of what this scout said. Not surprising seeing how this guy's job is to be in the field, analyzing each team to great detail and then reporting back to the GM. If anybody is going to be on the mark it should be the field guys like him. The wins predictions seems about right. I think 32 is going to be tough to reach as the team is now but this roster isn't about to stop changing right now with that big TPE on board (now through to the deadline).

I like DeMar but he's nowhere close to VC...even athletically i dont think hes on par with Vince and until he can stick shots and work on range he is Gerald Green status and i am a fan of his....Vince was special when he broke into the league and you could see it right away how he attacked guys and made big shots...DeRozan isnt anywhere close to that kind of swagger yet....

I like DeMar but he's nowhere close to VC...even athletically i dont think hes on par with Vince and until he can stick shots and work on range he is Gerald Green status and i am a fan of his....Vince was special when he broke into the league and you could see it right away how he attacked guys and made big shots...DeRozan isnt anywhere close to that kind of swagger yet....

Vince played 3 years of college ball before he came into the league. DeRozan just completed his first season and is getting adjusted to the league. IF he can put up 15-17 ppg, he'll be well into making the Vince comparisons somewhat justified. The difference is that DeRozan works hard to get better and Vince just coasted.
Demar shouldn't be considered anywhere near Gerald Green status. Green was not coachable and never wanted to put in the work to improve his game.

Vince played 3 years of college ball before he came into the league. DeRozan just completed his first season and is getting adjusted to the league. IF he can put up 15-17 ppg, he'll be well into making the Vince comparisons somewhat justified. The difference is that DeRozan works hard to get better and Vince just coasted.
Demar shouldn't be considered anywhere near Gerald Green status. Green was not coachable and never wanted to put in the work to improve his game.

15-17 PPG still dont make that a comparison...Vince was a top 3 player in the league by his 3rd season (Shaq,AI,Vince)
he needs to make shots,and dominate games if he wants to be in that discussion,something he hasnt shown yet....Vince didnt coast when he came into the league...he got lazy after his 4th season in the league after he was already a bonafied superstar...

Who cares whos coachable and YOU dont know who puts in work....every player in the NBA puts in work thats how they got into the L, IF DeMar dont develop a consistent J thats where he headed....Dont forget Gerald Green was projected to be the second coming of T Mac

15-17 PPG still dont make that a comparison...Vince was a top 3 player in the league by his 3rd season (Shaq,AI,Vince)

It brings him a lot closer. The scout didn't say DeMar is going to be a carbon copy of VC. Also, different players grow at different paces. Jason Kidd was one of the best PGs in the league from day one where as it took Steven Nash years to reach that level of play. Key thing is, both dominated at certain points in their careers. DeMar's may have a bigger window before he plateaus when compared to Vince. You can't predict things like that but the similarities in his game compared to a young Vince Carter, even if the stats aren't there yet, are obvious.

It brings him a lot closer. The scout didn't say DeMar is going to be a carbon copy of VC. Also, different players grow at different paces. Jason Kidd was one of the best PGs in the league from day one where as it took Steven Nash years to reach that level of play. Key thing is, both dominated at certain points in their careers. DeMar's may have a bigger window before he plateaus when compared to Vince. You can't predict things like that but the similarities in his game compared to a young Vince Carter, even if the stats aren't there yet, are obvious.

Actually his EXACT words were reach VC status and be a superstar which would be basically a carbon copy...

nash comparison dont work cuz he didnt get to play his first 3 years in the league playing behind Kidd...DD is going to get the ball and opportunities this year to show and prove....truth is elite SG and SF dont take years to develop like bigs..they show almost immediately with playing time...name me any elite 2 that took several years to develop having gotten adequate playing time ?

and yea i can predict because you can see if as guy has it or doesnt....DeMar has great physical tools and athleticism is def top 10 in the league but as long as that jumper is broke,i wont even entertain the comparison....vince came out of the gates on a bad team crushing...you KNEW he was going to be a problem...

What I like about DD is he seems to be learning pretty fast and is much better at just about everything this preseason than he was at any time last year. When his jumper finally smooths out a bit he's gonna be tough to stop. He gets to the line, doesn't back down from anyone and is looking much more engaged in the defensive schemes. His offense will come.

Don't know if he's 'elite' level material (it'd be nice) but he seems to have a great work ethic. The same thing that a lack of kept VC from ever reaching that "next" level. And he's a spineless douche bag. That never helps.

Actually his EXACT words were reach VC status and be a superstar which would be basically a carbon copy...

I meant this season. I thought we were talking about this season as we were discussing the stat prediction for this season and you even mentioned what Carter did in his third season stat-wise. I then went on to give the example of Jason Kidd and Steve Nash, how one was huge from the get go but one took more time but was still huge once he arrived. He won't be a carbon copy of Vince this season and the guy pretty much said it by giving the stat line. Down the road I think DeMar if DeMar can even reach the level of a younger J-Rich on offense (pre-injury, 2003-2006) AND bring it on D in a strong way then he can be more effective than Carter.

Carter always had the tools to be a great lock down defender with the exception of toughness and desire.

incidentally all those players in the second tier were older than demar in their rookie season.

flip your question around though and name me one elite two guard who came into the league one year removed from high school and just lit it the fuck up?

ugh t-mac ? really breh ? As soon as he got mins he became an all star....in Toronto he sat on the becnh for 3 seasons..same with Kobe in LA....Kobe played in the All star game his 2nd year in the league and was the MVP (lol @ ending the discussion on THOSE 2 players)